| 21st week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 21 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120126711 | PLANAR LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE - A sensor circuit or a display apparatus from which a highly accurate sensor output can be obtained includes a photodiode, a capacitor that is connected to the photodiode via an accumulation node and accumulates charges according to an electric current in the photodiode; a sensor switching element transistor that causes the accumulation node and an output line to be conductive with respect to each other in response to a readout signal and outputs an output signal according to the potential of the accumulation node to the output line; a variable capacitor that is provided between the accumulation node and an input electrode, and whose capacitance varies when a pressure is applied by a touching operation; and a control switching element transistor to which a control signal for switching conduction and non-conduction between the variable capacitor and the accumulation node is input. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126712 | LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DRIVING CIRCUIT, AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - Provided are an LED driving circuit capable of preventing distortion of LED currents and having a high operating speed, and a display device including the LED driving circuit. The LED driving circuit includes a current driving circuit, a dynamic headroom controller and a power supply circuit. The current driving circuit controls current signals flowing through LED strings in response to a first control signal that includes information of an LED current and a current-driving-circuit enabling signal. The dynamic headroom controller generates a dynamic headroom control signal having a voltage level that changes according to a logic state of the current-driving-circuit enabling signal. The power supply circuit generates an LED driving voltage that changes according to the dynamic headroom control signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126713 | LED DRIVING APPARATUS - Provided is an LED driving apparatus capable of improving a power factor through a non-insulation type simplified circuit structure, including: a light emitting unit having at least one LED; a rectifier rectifying an alternate current (AC) voltage applied from external power; a power supply unit supplying driving power to the light emitting unit, and having an inductor connected to an output terminal of the light emitting unit; and a switch controller. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126714 | BLEEDER CIRCUIT - Bleeder circuits ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126715 | DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING APPARATUS - A discharge lamp lighting apparatus has a configuration including a control unit which discriminates, for each polarity of an AC rectangular wave output, the output voltage detected with an output voltage detector for detecting the voltage applied to a discharge lamp, and carries out constant power control for each polarity separately. By thus detecting the output voltage for each polarity separately and by outputting a target current for each identical polarity, it can carry out constant power control positively even if the output voltage varies for each polarity, thereby being able to prevent current feedback to a different polarity, and to prevent power oscillation and partial reduction of electrodes due to an increase of the output voltage difference for each polarity. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126716 | ELECTRON EMITTING DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A driving method of an electron emitting device which includes a first electrode, a particle layer formed on the first electrode and including insulating particles, and a second electrode formed on the particle layer includes: applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes to emit electrons from the first electrode so that the electrons are accelerated through the particle layer and emitted from the second electrode, wherein the applied voltage includes pulses which have a first frequency and are oscillated at a second frequency lower than the first frequency. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126717 | LIGHTING APPARATUS - In a lighting apparatus including an emission unit and a constant current control part and/or a constant voltage control part for controlling a light quantity of the emission unit on the basis of a control signal, the constant current control part and/or the constant voltage control part includes light quantity control means for controlling the light quantity by changing the magnitude of a current and/or a voltage to be supplied to the emission unit in accordance with the control signal. Since no switching element is used in dimming level control of the emission unit, noise derived from an on/off operation of a switching element is not caused, and hence, noise may be reduced. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126718 | LED Array Inspection Fixture - An inspection fixture for inspecting an LED array of a circuit board under test through a power supply unit, includes: an inspection base having a testing platform with a plurality of pairs of anode and cathode probes corresponding to anode and cathode pins of the LEDs of the LED array, each pair being electrically connected to the power supply unit to constitute a power supply circuit; a carrier board used for carrying the circuit board under test and having through holes corresponding to the anode and cathode probes; and a pressing member for pressing the circuit board and driving the carrier board to move so as to enable the anode and cathode probes to pass through the through holes and come into contact with the anode and cathode pins of the LEDs, thereby supplying power to each of the LEDs to emit light through the power supply circuit. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126719 | LED DRIVER CIRCUIT AND METHOD - An LED driver circuit and a method for driving the LED driver circuit. In accordance with an embodiment the LED driver circuit includes a voltage follower circuit and a calibration circuit coupled to the voltage follower circuit. First and second currents may be injected into the node and a current is sunk from the node. In accordance with another embodiment, the LED driver circuit asserts a non-zero voltage across the light emitting diode in a first phase of a drive cycle and asserts a fixed non-zero current in the light emitting diode in a second phase of the drive cycle. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126720 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - A three-dimensional image display device includes a luminance controller receiving a three-dimensional enable signal, a backlight data signal and at least one starting signal of a scan starting signal, a vertical blank starting signal and a backlight starting signal. The luminance controller outputs a backlight control signal and a backlight unit is operated based on the backlight control signal and is coupled to the luminance controller. The backlight data signal is based on a previous pulse of the starting signal and is applied from a first time when a current pulse of the starting signal starts to a second time when a next pulse of the starting signal starts. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126721 | GPS-BASED LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM - A GPS-based lighting system is provided. The lighting system includes at least one lighting fixture including a light source and a GPS microchip incorporated therein that is configured to detect the geographic location of the at least one lighting fixture, and a control capable of transmitting a signal comprising operating instructions to the at least one lighting fixture. The at least one lighting fixture is configured to respond to operating instructions specific to the geographic location of the at least one lighting fixture. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126722 | COMBINED LIGHTING AND VIDEO CONTROL SYSTEM - Disclosed is an abstracted lighting control system abstracted based on the lighting canvas rather than the mapping of the location of the luminaires or lighting fixtures. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126723 | Lighting Device - A lighting device using an electroluminescent material, in which color mixing and dimming can be performed by a simple method, is provided. A lighting device including a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element which emits light having a wavelength longer than that of light emitted from the first light-emitting element and starts to emit light at a lower voltage than the first light-emitting element, is provided. The first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element are connected in parallel, whereby a mixed color of emission colors of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element is controlled by a voltage applied to the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126724 | SOUND CONTROL CANDLE LIGHT - A sound control candle light includes a candle light having a lampshade shaped like the flame of a candle and a light-emitting device surrounded by the lampshade, a sound generator having an enclosed sound pipe with a mouthpiece and a reed mounted inside the enclosed sound pipe adjacent to the mouthpiece and vibratable to produce a sound at a predetermined frequency when a person blows in the mouthpiece, a sound sensor mounted inside the enclosed sound pipe for sensing the sound produced by the reed and providing a corresponding sensing signal, and a control circuit adapted for receiving the sensing signal provided by the sound sensor to drive on/off the light-emitting device. Thus, a specific sound frequency different from surrounding noises can be produced, enabling the sound control candle light to be alternatively turned on and off when it is blown by the user, assuring high control reliability. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126725 | Fixing Device of Light-Emitting Body and Lighting Device - A fixing device of a light-emitting body, whose mounting height is suppressed, is provided. Further, a lighting device whose mounting height is suppressed is provided. Further, a lighting device whose mounting height is suppressed and in which fixtures supporting a light-emitting body are hidden from view is provided. Furthermore, a lighting device whose mounting height is suppressed and in which light-emitting bodies can be arranged with no space therebetween and supported is provided. A structure is employed in which a planar light-emitting body whose thickness is suppressed is formed using an organic electroluminescent element, a terminal is provided in each of end portions facing each other in the planar light-emitting body, the terminals are made in contact with contacts provided in fixtures, and the end portions of the light-emitting body are held between the fixtures. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126726 | Compact Cold, Weak-Focusing, Superconducting Cyclotron - A compact, cold, weak-focusing superconducting cyclotron can include at least two superconducting coils on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane. A magnetic yoke surrounds the coils and contains an acceleration chamber. The magnetic yoke is in thermal contact with the superconducting coils, and the median acceleration plane extends through the acceleration chamber. A cryogenic refrigerator is thermally coupled both with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126727 | Sub-Nanosecond Beam Pulse Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) Linear Accelerator System - Sub-nanosecond single ion beam pulses are generated by means of one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an ion source provides ions to a radio frequency quadrupole linear accelerator comprising electrodes. A power source is used to apply radio frequency alternating currents to the electrodes. A device is used to inject ions from the ion source to the accelerator, causing the accelerator to provide only a single sub-nanosecond output beam pulse at a time. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126728 | INTEGRATED ELECTRIC MACHINE AND SILICON CARBIDE POWER CONVERTER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An electric drive system comprising an electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator, a power converter electrically coupled to the electric machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the electric machine, and a single cooling loop, wherein the electric machine and the power converter are integrated within the single cooling loop. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126729 | METHOD FOR SENSORLESS OPERATION OF AN ECM, and MOTOR FOR CARRYING OUT - An electronically commutated motor (ECM) often employs a Hall sensor for reliable operation. Even when a Hall sensor is omitted from a motor having a plurality of stator winding phases ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126730 | METHOD FOR SENSORLESS OPERATION OF AN ECM, and MOTOR FOR CARRYING OUT - An electronically commutated motor (ECM) often employs a Hall sensor for reliable operation. Even when a Hall sensor is omitted from a motor having a plurality of stator winding phases ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126731 | BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC MOTOR OR GENERATOR IN SHELL CONSTRUCTION - The invention relates to an electric motor having at least two stators disposed coaxially to each other and a rotor, wherein each stator has 2*n poles, with n=1, 2, 3, . . . , wherein each stator has at least one common coil or winding for all poles, wherein each stator has a first and second partial shell, wherein each partial shell has a shell bottom and n poles, wherein each pole is formed as a tooth extending in axial direction or substantially in axial direction and beginning on the shell bottom, wherein with assembled partial shells of a stator the tooth or the teeth of the first partial shell is or are disposed in alternating manner in circumferential direction with the tooth or the teeth of the second partial shell, and wherein with assembled partial shells or a stator, the at least one coil) or winding is received between the partial shells. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126732 | MOTOR DRIVER AND VEHICLE USING THE SAME - A motor driver includes a control portion, for performing variable control on a torque or rotation speed of a motor through a control signal; and an output mode selection circuit, for sending an indication to the control portion when the control signal is abnormal, so that the motor enters an action status corresponding to a selection signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126733 | HIGH POWER-DENSITY, HIGH BACK EMF PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator and a power converter electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine. The power converter includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126734 | ALTERNATING CURRENT CHOPPER CIRCUIT WITH LOW NOISE - An alternating current chopper circuit with low noise is disclosed. The circuit includes a switching circuit, a first freewheel circuit, and a second freewheel circuit. The switching circuit has a control switching unit, which turns on and or off accordingly to a control signal. The first freewheel circuit and the second freewheel circuit are for providing a current-conducting path to the motor, when the control switching unit is turned off. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126735 | DEAD-TIME GENERATING CIRCUIT AND MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS - A dead-time generating circuit includes a constant current circuit; a current generating circuit generating a capacitor-charge current; and a control circuit receiving a dead time control signal and a comparator signal. The control circuit generates a dead time generating signal based on the dead time control signal and the comparator signal, and a charge/discharge signal based on the dead time generating signal. Charging or discharging of a capacitor is controlled by the capacitor-charge current in accordance with the charge/discharge signal. A voltage of the capacitor is compared with a threshold voltage in order to generate a comparator signal when the voltage of the capacitor exceeds the threshold voltage. The control circuit generates the charge/discharge signal for a duration starting from a time when the delay time has elapsed from the rise or fall timing of the dead time control signal until the control circuit receives the comparator signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126736 | Bootstrapped High-Side Driver Control Without Static DC Current for Driving a Motor Bridge Circuit - A motor driver circuit for driving the gate node of a high-side driver transistor to a boosted voltage from a charge pump draws little or no static current from the charge pump. The gate node is pulled to the boosted voltage by a p-channel pullup-control transistor that is driven by p-channel transistors that are pumped by capacitors that cut off current flow to ground from the charge pump. An n-channel output-shorting transistor shorts the gate node to the output when the high-side driver is turned off. A coupling capacitor initializes the shorting transistor for each output transition. A p-channel output-sensing transistor generates a feedback to a second stage that drives the coupling capacitor. P-channel diode transistors and an n-channel equalizing transistor control the voltage on the coupling capacitor. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126737 | AUTOMATED SHADE CONTROL SYSTEM - Automated shade systems comprise motorized window coverings, sensors, and controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, ASHRAE clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126738 | Rotating Machinery Condition Monitoring Using Position Sensor - Continuous monitoring and fault diagnosis of rotating machinery during variable speed operation is performed using only a position feedback signal. The position sensor generates a periodic waveform having multiple pulses per revolution of the machine. A circuit is included to detect, for example, a zero crossing or edge of the periodic waveform. At each detected zero crossing or edge, the time and position of the event is stored in memory. Other data, such as the current in the motor, may also be sampled and stored in memory. Because the sampled data is triggered by repeated feature of the position feedback signal, the sampled data is in a stationary reference frame in the position domain. Frequency analysis is performed on the sampled data, and the frequency components present in either the sampled signal are analyzed to identify the presence of a fault in the rotating machinery. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126739 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING INDUCTIVE LOADS - Control circuitry for inductive loads comprehending a DC power source (DC), electrical switches (A and R) and appropriate electrical conductors to direct current to an inductive load, as the control system includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit which is partly concurrent with the primary electrical circuit. The primary electrical circuit includes a series of DC power sources (DC), an inductive load in the form of an electric motor (M) or transformer (T) and a capacitor (C), while the secondary electrical circuit includes the inductive loads and capacitor (C), since the two electrical switches (A and R) are so arranged that the power of a first operational phase is driven through the primary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the DC power source (DC) while the current in another phase of operation runs through the secondary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the capacitor (C). | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126740 | Permanent Magnet Motor with Field Weakening - A permanent-magnet electrical machine is disclosed in which the rotor has a fixed back iron and movable back iron segments. When the movable back iron segments are in a first position, such as in contact with the fixed back iron, the field strength is high. When the movable back iron segments are in a second position in which the movable back iron segments are displaced away from the fixed back iron, the field strength is low. The ability to weaken the field strength causes the constant-power, speed ratio to be increased and thereby increases the utility of the motor for applications in which a wide speed range is desired. The disclosure applies to both permanent-magnet motors and generators. In an alternative embodiment, the stator ring is provided with a fixed portion and at least one movable stator segment. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126741 | LOW-INDUCTANCE, HIGH-EFFICIENCY INDUCTION MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An electric drive system includes an induction machine and a power converter electrically coupled to the induction machine to drive the induction machine. The power converter comprising a plurality of silicon carbide (SiC) switching devices. The electric drive system further includes a controller that is electrically coupled to the power converter and that is programmed to transmit switching signals to the plurality of SiC switching devices at a given switching frequency such that a peak-to-peak current ripple is less than approximately five percent. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126742 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL CONTROL OF A DC/DC POWER-CONVERTER DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS - A system for controlling a power-converter device of a DC/DC type, having an input connected to a first electric battery at an input voltage, and an output connected to a second electric battery at an output voltage, and being provided with: a transformer stage, with a primary winding coupled to the input, and a secondary winding coupled to the output; a switching stage, arranged between the input and the primary winding and supplying an alternating electrical quantity to the primary winding as a function of the input voltage; a rectifier stage arranged between the secondary winding and the output for generating the output voltage. A control stage switching controls the switching stage at a switching frequency, as a function of a measurement signal indicative of an electrical output quantity, by means of a digital average-current-mode control, obtaining the measurement signal by means of a subsampling of the electrical output quantity, at a sampling frequency, lower than the switching frequency. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126743 | SYSTEM, CHARGING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CHARGING A POWER STORAGE DEVICE - A system for use in supplying current to a plurality of power storage devices includes a first charging device configured to supply current to a first power storage device. At least one other charging device is coupled to the first charging device to form a network and is configured to supply current to at least one other power storage device of the plurality of power storage devices. When the first charging device possesses a network token, it determines a second charging parameter associated with said second charging device, and a second amount of current to be at least one of received from the electrical supply or supplied to the first power storage device, based at least in part on said determined first and second charging parameters. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126744 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, METHOD OF CHARGING ELECTRONIC DEVICE, PROGRAM, CHARGING CONTROL APPARATUS, AND CHARGING CONTROL METHOD - Provided is an electronic device including a secondary battery, a charging section which charges the secondary battery with power supplied from an external power supply section with a set charging current, a measurement section which measures an amount of charge accumulated in the secondary battery, a time information acquisition section which acquires time information, a storage section which stores charging history information indicating a time period in which a user performs charging, and a control section which has a chargeable time estimation section that estimates chargeable time based on the charging history information and the time information, and a charging current setting section that calculates a restricted charging current which enables the secondary battery to be charged up to a charging capacity within the chargeable time, based on the amount of charge acquired from the measurement section, and sets the restricted charging current in the charging section. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126745 | POWER SOURCE, CHARGING SYSTEM, AND INDUCTIVE RECEIVER FOR MOBILE DEVICES - A power source, charging system, and inductive receiver for mobile devices. A pad or similar base unit comprises a primary, which creates a magnetic field by applying an alternating current to a winding, coil, or any type of current carrying wire. A receiver comprises a means for receiving the energy from the alternating magnetic field and transferring it to a mobile or other device. The receiver can also comprise electronic components or logic to set the voltage and current to the appropriate levels required by the mobile device, or to communicate information or data to and from the pad. The system may also incorporate efficiency measures that improve the efficiency of power transfer between the charger and receiver. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126746 | WIRELESS CHARGING SYSTEM - A wireless charging system includes a charger and an electronic device. The charger includes a power input port including two input terminals for connecting to a power source and a power output port including two first metal sheets respectively connected to the two input terminals. The electronic device includes a power input port including two second metal sheets, a voltage conversion circuit connected to the two second metal sheets, a rectifier and filter circuit, and a battery. When the power output port of the charger is close to and faces the power input port of the electronic device. The two first metal sheets and the two second metal sheets form two capacitors, the power source provides power to the electronic device via the two capacitors and charges the battery after the power is processed by the voltage conversion circuit and the rectifier and filter circuit. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126747 | BATTERY CHARGER HAVING NON-CONTACT ELECTRICAL SWITCH - The handle of a charge coupler includes a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks the handle to the vehicle passively when the handle is manually attached to the vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between the vehicle and the charger. The handle also has an actuator movable by the operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state. The mechanical latch operates independently of the state of the actuator when the handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by the actuator when it is moved to its second activated state. A non-contact electrical switch means associated with the actuator breaks the electrical connection when the actuator is moved to the first position activated state before releasing the mechanical latch at said second activated position. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126748 | AUTOMATED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored local database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle, querying the local database to determine whether a current time corresponds to an energy efficient usage time based on energy efficient usage data received from a power grid, and initiating a charging process upon determining that the current time corresponds to the energy efficient usage time. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126749 | BATTERY PACK AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A battery pack and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. According to some aspects, the battery pack includes at least one chargeable battery cell, and a charge control circuit that receives a control signal from an external source. The charge control circuit is configured to control charging of the battery cell according to the control signal. As a result, a charging operation may be stably performed. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126750 | METHOD OF CHARGING A BATTERY ARRAY - The method of charging a battery array performs constant current, constant voltage charging of a battery array while detecting the voltage of each battery. The battery array is a plurality of series connected batteries. The charge method detects the voltage of each battery cell at a prescribed sampling rate. When the voltage of any battery cell exceeds a preset maximum specified voltage, charging power is reduced for constant current, constant voltage charging of the battery array. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126751 | Device and Method of Battery Discharge - A battery pack includes a plurality of cells. A discharge circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of cells. A computer processor is electrically connected to the discharge circuit and to an input device. The computer processor operates the discharge circuit to selectively connect a first and a second discharge load of the discharge circuit to the plurality of cells. A method of discharging a battery for safe disposal includes connecting a first discharge load in parallel to a first cell. A first voltage across the first cell is monitored. A second discharge load is connected in parallel to a second cell. A second voltage is monitored across the second cell. A processor compares the first voltage and the second voltage to a predetermined cell voltage threshold. The first discharge load and the second discharge load are disconnected from the first cell and the second cell when the first and second voltages fall below the predetermined cell voltage threshold. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126752 | NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE/HYDROGEN HYBRID BATTERY USING ALKALI ION CONDUCTING SEPARATOR - A nickel-metal hydride (hydrogen) hybrid storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a combination negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy electrode and a reversible hydrogen electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, and an alkali conducting separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The alkali conducting separator may be a substantially non-porous ion conducting material wherein the alkali conducted is Na, K, or Li. A method of charging and discharging such a hybrid battery is also disclosed. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126753 | Self Heating Battery System - A battery self heating system for batteries that experience battery impedance or internal battery resistance when temperature drops. The system comprises an energy storage element applied to the battery terminals to draw energy from the battery. The energy is stored in a magnetic or capacitive storage device. The system is self-resonant so that energy transfer from the storage device to the battery will occur at a frequency and load level that is compatible with the current state of the battery. Internal heating of the battery is accomplished by a cycle comprising the out flux and influx of energy through the impedance of the battery. Energy losses due to battery impedance are converted to heat thereby heating the battery internally. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126754 | MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR CHARGING SECONDARY BATTERIES OF WORK VEHICLES, AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGING SECONDARY BATTERIES OF WORK VEHICLES - The management method for charging secondary batteries of work vehicles includes: a step of acquiring remaining battery levels of secondary batteries which supply powers respectively to work vehicles; a step of calculating estimated power consumptions of the work vehicles for a predetermined time from the current time; a step of calculating an index value for determining a priority order for replacing the secondary batteries of the work vehicles by referring to differences between the remaining battery levels of the secondary batteries and the estimated power consumptions; and a step of outputting a return command to one of the work vehicles based on the index value and the acceptable charge amounts by which the secondary batteries can be respectively charged. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126755 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING POWER TO A LOAD BASED UPON A CONTROL STRATEGY - Systems and methods are provided for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a load, an interface configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source, and a controller configured to receive the voltage from the voltage source through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the load. Wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the load, when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the load, and when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the load | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126756 | Charge-driven electrostatic inductance - Charge-Driven Electrostatic Induction is a method for using modest voltage to induce large density electric charge across a large insulation gap. Large density equal and opposite charges are first created in a high performance capacitor adjacent said insulation gap. One charge is trapped on its electrode and the other charge is relocated further from the gap so the electric field from the trapped charge, with minimum interference, induces equal and opposite charge across the gap and stores large density electric energy in the insulation. With electrode area to gap ratio kept sufficiently large to limit field fringing, Charge-Driven Electrostatic Induction will rival electromagnetic motor performance. In practice it will be superior. Using layered, thin film components will eliminate permanent magnets, coils, ferromagnetic materials and large power current sources. The multi-step process will permit high operating speeds. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126757 | CIRCUIT FOR STORING ELECTRICAL ENERGY - A circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle, comprises at least one capacitor and a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor can be charged. The circuit may be included in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, a motor vehicle may be retrofit to include the circuit. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126758 | HIGH VOLTAGE DC POWER GENERATION - A DC power system includes a permanent magnet generator (PMG), and an active rectifier in electrical communication with the PMG. The active rectifier is adapted to actively rectify power output from the PMG if the PMG is operating at low speed, and the active rectifier is further adapted to passively rectify power output from the PMG if the PMG is operating at high speed. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126759 | POWER CONVERSION CONTROLLER HAVING A NOVEL POWER FACTOR CORRECTION MECHANISM - A power conversion controller having a novel power factor correction mechanism, including: a normalization unit, used to generate a normalized signal according to a line voltage by multiplying the line voltage with a normalizing gain, wherein the normalizing gain is proportional to the reciprocal of the amplitude of the line voltage; a reference current generation unit, coupled to the normalization unit to generate a reference current signal by performing an arithmetic operation, wherein the arithmetic operation involves the normalized signal; and a gate drive signal generation unit, used to generate a gate drive signal, wherein the duty of the gate drive signal is determined by a voltage comparison of the reference current signal and a current sensing signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126760 | LOW DROPOUT REGULATOR - A low-drop out (LDO) regulator circuit is provided having a gate of a pass transistor coupled to an output of an operational transconductance amplifier, the LDO regulator exhibiting a non-dominant pole at an output of the LDO. A dynamic zero-compensation circuit is coupled in parallel to the pass transistor. A compensation control circuit is coupled and configured to adjust a frequency, at which a zero is generated, and cause the generated zero to track with the non-dominant pole. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126761 | CIRCUITRY FOR CONTROLLING A VOLTAGE - Circuitry configured for controlling a voltage is described. The circuitry includes a transient detector that detects a transient in a first frame. The circuitry also includes a controller coupled to the transient detector. The controller determines a duty cycle during a period upon detection of the transient and promotes a second frame based on the period. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126762 | CURRENT LIMITING CIRCUIT AND POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - A current limiting circuit for limiting an output current in response to a control current includes a detection circuit to detect a detection voltage responsive to an output voltage, and a control current generating circuit to generate a control current responsive to the detection voltage, wherein the control current generating circuit includes a first transistor through which the control current flows, a second transistor that becomes conductive upon a voltage responsive to an amount of the control current being greater than a predetermined voltage above the detection voltage, and a resistor connecting between a base and an emitter of the second transistor to raise a potential at the base of the second transistor above a predetermined level, wherein the amount of the control current flowing through the first transistor decreases as an amount of a current flowing through the second transistor increases. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126763 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOLTAGE REGULATION - Systems and methods for voltage regulation provide close-tolerance voltage regulation over a wide input voltage range. A voltage regulator has a reference voltage unit, first and second transistors, and an active circuit element. The reference voltage unit is configured to provide a substantially constant voltage signal at a reference node. The first transistor is coupled to the reference node and to an input node having an input voltage. The active circuit element is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor has a source coupled in feedback configuration to a first input of the active circuit element, a drain coupled to the input node, and a gate configured to be driven by the active circuit element to force the source to a voltage about equal to a voltage of a second input of the active circuit element independent of the input voltage. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126764 | DC/DC POWER CONVERSION APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is to provide a DC/DC power conversion apparatus that can reduce the average power consumption over a wide range of DC voltage ratios. A control circuit ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126765 | CIRCUIT AND SYSTEM WITH SOFT-START FUNCTIONALITY - A circuit includes a first control output adapted to couple to a control terminal of a first transistor and a second control output adapted to couple to a control terminal of a second transistor. The circuit further includes a feedback input for receiving a signal and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to independently control first and second on-times of control signals applied to the first and second control outputs, respectively, in response to receiving the signal to limit a current at an output node. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126766 | Control circuit and bulk DC/DC converter in constant on-time mode - Constant on-time control circuit includes a comparing circuit including a comparator including a positive input end for receiving a control voltage; a negative input end for receiving a feedback voltage from the output voltage of the DC/DC converter; and an output end for outputting a comparing signal; and a voltage adjusting circuit coupled to the output end of the comparator for adjusting the control voltage; and a pulse generator coupled to the output end of the comparator for generating a pulse signal to control a switch set of the DC/DC converter according to the comparing signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126767 | BUCK CONVERTER - A buck converter includes a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch connected in series, a PWM module coupled to the gate of the first electrical switch through a first adjustable resistance module and coupled to the gate of the second electrical switch through a second adjustable resistance module, a filter circuit coupled between the connecting node of the two different electrical switches and an output node, and a control module for adjusting values of the first adjustable resistance module and the second adjustable resistance module and acquiring a voltage value from the connecting node. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126768 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY - An error amplifier generates an error signal V | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126769 | VOLTAGE BOOSTING/LOWERING CIRCUIT AND VOLTAGE BOOSTING/LOWERING CIRCUIT CONTROL METHOD - A voltage boosting/lowering circuit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an output voltage generation circuit | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126770 | MULTI-STAGE VOLTAGE REGULATING CIRCUIT WITH AUTOMATIC THERMAL COMPENSATION AND REGULATING METHOD THEREOF - A multi-stage voltage regulating circuit and method with automatic temperature compensation comprises a plurality of charge-pumps, a temperature compensator, a comparative unit and a control logic circuit; wherein, the temperature compensator detects the ambient temperature and outputs a reference voltage related to the ambient temperature, the comparative unit compares the voltage of the output power source to the reference voltage output by the temperature compensator and outputs a comparative signal based on the comparison, and the control logic circuit controls the charging/discharging operations of the charge-pumps based on the comparative signal and voltages of input power sources connected to said charge-pumps to automatically regulate the voltage of the output power source. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126771 | CIRCUITRY FOR DETECTING A TRANSIENT - Circuitry configured for detecting a transient is described. The circuitry includes an analog-to-digital converter that obtains a first voltage sample at a first time and a second voltage sample at a second time. The circuitry also includes a slope detector coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. The slope detector determines a first slope based on the first voltage sample and the second voltage sample. The circuitry further includes a threshold detector coupled to the slope detector. The threshold detector generates a first signal if the first slope exceeds a transient threshold. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126772 | CURRENT MODE SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION DC/DC CONVERTER - A current mode synchronous rectification direct current (DC)/DC converter according to the present invention includes: a soft start function unit (in FIG. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126773 | SWITCHING REGULATOR WITH BALANCED CONTROL CONFIGURATION WITH FILTERING AND REFERENCING TO ELIMINATE COMPENSATION - A switching regulator and controller and an electronic device using same are disclosed in which the controller includes a sense circuit, an error amplifier circuit, a filter and reference circuit, and a comparator circuit. The switching regulator includes a pulse switch circuit coupled to an output inductor for developing an output voltage. The sense circuit provides a sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor. The error amplifier circuit develops an error signal indicative of error of the output voltage. The filter and reference circuit high pass filters the sense signal to provide a filtered sense signal and which balances the filtered sense signal and the error signal at a common DC level. The comparator circuit develops a pulse control signal using the error signal and the filtered sense signal, where the pulse control signal is for controlling switching of the pulse switch circuit. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126774 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELF-RECYCLING POWER - A power system includes a switch, a capacitor and a comparator circuit. The power system receives a signal to turn off power supplied to the power system, turns off the switch that is used to supply power to the system and discharges the capacitor. The power system also compares a voltage across the discharging capacitor to a threshold voltage value, and turns on the switch to allow power to be supplied to the power system when the compared voltage across the discharging capacitor equals the threshold voltage value. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126775 | SWITCHING POWER CONVERTER - A switching power converter including an upper-bridge switch, a lower-bridge switch, an impedance circuit, a first control circuit, a second control circuit and a logic circuit is provided. The impedance circuit generates an output voltage and a sensing current according to a conductive state of the upper-bridge switch and the lower-bridge switch. The first control circuit generates a first pulse signal according to the output voltage. The second control circuit has a first mode and a second mode for generating a second pulse signal and a third pulse signal individually. Furthermore, the second control circuit uses different threshold values in different modes to determine whether to switch the mode thereof, so as to form a hysteretic effect in mode switching. The logic circuit controls the upper-bridge switch by the first pulse signal, and controls the lower-bridge switch by the second pulse signal or the third pulse signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126776 | VOLTAGE SMOOTHING CIRCUIT - A voltage smoothing circuit is configured to smooth a voltage outputted from a power supply portion. The voltage smoothing circuit includes first and second smoothing capacitors, a first balancing resistor, and a second conduction regulating portion. The first smoothing capacitor and the second smoothing capacitor are connected in series to each other and are connected in parallel to the power supply portion. The first balancing resistor is connected in parallel to the first smoothing capacitor. The second conduction regulating portion is connected on a current path in parallel with the second smoothing capacitor and conducts current in one direction on the current path in a case where a voltage equal to or greater than a second predetermined voltage has been applied. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126777 | DC-DC CONVERTER CIRCUIT - A DC-DC converter circuit includes first to sixth semiconductor switches and an inductor. The first to third semiconductor switches are connected to one end of the inductor. The fourth to sixth semiconductor switches are connected to the other end of the inductor. A first voltage supply is connected to opposite ends of the first and fourth semiconductor switches from the ends of the first and fourth semiconductor switches connected to the inductor. A second voltage supply is connected to opposite ends of the second and fifth semiconductor switches from the ends of the second and fifth semiconductor switches connected to the inductor. The first voltage supply and the second voltage supply are both connected to opposite ends of the third and sixth semiconductor switches from the ends of the third and sixth semiconductor switches connected to the inductor. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126778 | Charge Pump Circuit with Pulse-Width Modulation - Each switching element of a charge pump circuit of a voltage regulator comprises a relatively small-sized MOS transistor associated with a relatively large-sized MOS transistor connected in parallel. Only the small transistors are switched in a first mode of operation, while the large transistors are switched in a second mode of operation. In this manner the switching losses in the first mode of operation can be decreased. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126779 | Power Control System - A system and method for controlling performance and/or power based on monitored performance characteristics. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first circuit module that receives electrical power. A second circuit module may monitor one or more performance characteristics of the first circuit module and/or the integrated circuit. A third circuit module may, for example, determine power control information based at least in part on the monitored performance characteristic(s). The power control information may be communicated to power supply circuitry to control various characteristics of the electrical power. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first module that monitors at least one performance characteristic of a first electrical device. The integrated circuit may also comprise modules that determine power control information based on the monitored performance characteristic(s) and communicate such power control information to power supply circuitry. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126780 | RESISTANCE WELDING METHOD, RESISTANCE WELDER, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EVALUATING RESISTANCE WELDING - This invention aims to provide a resistance welding method capable of stabilizing quality or improving efficiency of resistance welding such as spot welding. This resistance welding method comprises a calculating step of calculating resistance ratio X of a second electric resistance value R | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126781 | ON-CHIP IR DROP DETECTORS FOR FUNCTIONAL AND TEST MODE SCENARIOS, CIRCUITS, PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS - An integrated circuit includes a functional circuit ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126782 | LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRONIC MODULE INTERFACE - A low voltage electronic module interface, with a low voltage interface for an electronic module receiving a constant current from a body control module, the interface including a reverse current protection circuit | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126783 | SELF TIMED CURRENT INTEGRATING SCHEME EMPLOYING LEVEL AND SLOPE DETECTION - Some embodiments of the invention relate to a sense amplifier configured to determine the slope of a bitline charging voltage and to utilize the determined slope in combination with a voltage level sensing scheme to aid in reading data from a memory cell associated with the bitline. In particular, a sense amplifier circuit is configured to determine a slope of a bit line charging voltage and based upon the determined slope to adjust the slope of the bitline voltage (e.g., by adding a dynamic slope dependent current to a memory cell current configured to charge the bitline) provided to a sense amplifier. By adjusting the slope of the bitline voltage, the charging speed of memory cells in a low resistive state (e.g., having a high cell current and therefore a good SNR) can be increased. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126784 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING CURRENT - A device for measuring current is connected to a data processing apparatus loaded with a current value comparison program for performing a quality test on a portable electronic apparatus with a battery. The portable electronic apparatus has a battery compartment for receiving the battery. The device for measuring current includes: a power supplying module for generating a low-voltage current; a dummy battery with a shape of the battery for inserting into the battery compartment, the dummy battery electrically connected to the power supplying module and the portable electronic apparatus to provide the low-voltage current generated by the power supply module to the portable electronic apparatus, forming a power supply loop to the portable electronic apparatus; and a current measuring module electrically connected to the power supply loop for measuring a current value of the power supply loop when the portable electronic apparatus is performing a specific function and transmitting the measured current value to the data processing apparatus for comparison. The present invention does not heavily rely on manual operations to measure the current of the portable electronic apparatus. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126785 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CIRCUIT OVERCURRENT PROTECTION - In one aspect, the invention provides a method for overcurrent sensing including; generating an analog output signal representative of a sensed AC current, generating a digital representation of the analog output signal using a plurality of discrete samples, determining those of the plurality of discrete samples having a substantially identical magnitude and estimating an amount of overcurrent in the sensed AC current by evaluating those of the plurality of discrete samples that have the substantially identical magnitude. In some embodiments, the substantially identical magnitude is a maximum magnitude represented by the digital representation. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126786 | Thermoelectric Power Measurement Cell and Corresponding Measurement Method - A power measurement cell comprises at least one thermoelement ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126787 | MAGNETIC SHIELD FOR CURRENT TRANSFORMER IN ELECTRONIC WATT-HOUR METER - An electronic watt-hour meter; a current transformer operatively coupled to the electronic watt-hour meter; a first shield on a first side of the current transformer; and a second shield on a second side of the current transformer, wherein the second side is substantially parallel to the first side, wherein the first shield and the second shield each include a substantially magnetically permeable and conductive metal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126788 | ENERGY METER - The energy meter for measuring the amount of electrical energy consumed includes an electrical display ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126789 | ROGOWSKI CURRENT SENSOR - The invention relates to a Rogowski-loop current sensor comprising a winding ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER TO A POWER METER CONNECTED TO A POWER LINE - The disclosure relates to a meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site. The meter comprises: a meter module connected to a power feed associated with the power transmission system to provide readings relating to the power; a messaging module to provide messages to the power transmission system; a connection to an alternating current (AC) power supply; a rectifier circuit connected to the AC power supply to generate a direct current (DC) power signal; a capacitive circuit connected to an output of the rectifier circuit, the capacitive circuit including a capacitor for storing a voltage for temporarily providing replacement power for the rectifier circuit; and a switching regulator circuit connected to the output of the rectifier circuit and the capacitive circuit, the switching regulator converting the DC voltage signal to a stepped down voltage signal for the meter module. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126791 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - An output of a current sensing cell is connected to an inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier, and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the source, of the main cell, to which a source-bias voltage is applied; a current/voltage conversion circuit configured with the operational amplifier and a sensing resistor converts an output current of the current sensing cell into a sensing voltage; there are provided a first error detection circuit that compares the sensing voltage with a first reference voltage and outputs an error signal and a second error detection circuit that compares a voltage at the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier with a second reference voltage set to be higher than the source-bias voltage and outputs an error signal. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126792 | STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR RF DE-EMBEDDING - Electrical structures, methods, and computer program products for radio frequency (RF) de-embedding are provided. A structure includes a first test device, a first through structure corresponding to the first test device, and a first open structure corresponding to the first test device. The structure also includes a second test device having at least one different physical dimension than the first test device but otherwise identical to the first test device, a second through structure corresponding to the second test device, and a second open structure corresponding to the second test device. A method includes determining a first electrical parameter of the first test device in a first DUT structure and a second electrical parameter of the second test device in a second DUT structure based on measured electrical parameters of the first and the second DUT structures, through structures, and open structures. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126793 | POLYPHASE METER WITH FULL SERVICE DISCONNECT SWITCH - A switch sensor apparatus, an electrical meter, and a method of manufacturing an electrical meter are disclosed herein. A polyphase electrical meter incorporates a number of switch sensor apparatuses that each have a current sensor and a relay arranged relatively perpendicularly to each other and electrically connected via an electrical conductor. The switch sensor apparatuses may be arranged in a compact configuration. In this way, a polyphase meter can provide full service disconnect functionality while remaining sufficiently compact to fit in an ANSI standard housing. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126794 | Sensor Assembly And Methods Of Assembling A Sensor Probe - A method of assembling a sensor probe includes positioning an emitter within a probe cap, wherein the emitter is configured to generate an electromagnetic field from at least one microwave signal. An inner sleeve is coupled to the probe cap and an outer sleeve is coupled to the inner sleeve. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126795 | PUMP WITH ROTOR POSITION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A pump comprising an electrical motor drive ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126796 | POSITION SENSOR AND LINEAR ACTUATOR - A linear magnetic position sensor may include a magnetic field generating unit having two permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field. A Hall sensor may be disposed in a region of the magnetic field forming a linear measuring section, wherein the Hall sensor and the magnetic field generating unit are linearly displaceable relative to one another along a longitudinal direction in order to position the Hall sensor within the measuring section. The permanent magnets may be polarized in a transverse direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The permanent magnets may be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. Each pole of one of the permanent magnets may be connected to a pole of the other permanent magnet via a magnetic conductor element. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126797 | MAGNETIC POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS - A magnetic position detection apparatus includes a substrate, a magnet, a bridge circuit including first through fourth magneto-electric converting elements formed on the substrate, and a detection circuit. A substrate surface is substantially perpendicular to a magnet magnetization direction. The second and third magneto-electric converting elements are, when viewed along the magnet magnetization direction, disposed to be on or in the vicinity of a straight line passing through a center point of a magnetic pole of the magnet and parallel to a straight line perpendicular to both the magnet magnetization direction and the magnetic mobile object. The first and fourth magneto-electric converting elements are disposed so that, when not opposed to the magnetic mobile object, a component of a substrate of a magnetic field to be applied thereto is substantially same as that of a magnetic field to be applied to the second and third magneto-electric converting elements. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126798 | Method and apparatus for magnetic response imaging - An apparatus and method for identifying, measuring, and monitoring metal loss through corrosion or other deleterious factors in ferromagnetic piping and ferromagnetic objects. Drive coils secured to the object are driven to emit a magnetic field which is transmitted through the object by magnetic domains in the object. Response coils detect the magnetic domains and generate a response signal. The drive and response signals can penetrate insulating materials and non-ferromagnetic metallic coverings of the piping and vessels. The system operates reiteratively over an extended period of time, e.g., months or years, to detect loss of magnetic domains which is an important indicator of corrosion and deterioration of the object. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126799 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A magnetometer is described, having a substrate and a magnetic core, the substrate having an excitation coil for generating a magnetic flux in the magnetic core; and the excitation coil having a coil cross section, which is aligned generally perpendicular to a main plane of extension of the substrate. The magnetic core is situated outside the coil cross section. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126800 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AT LEAST ONE ELECTROMAGNETIC QUANTITY - The present invention relates to an apparatus ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126801 | DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF AT LEAST ONE DEFECT IN A CONCAVE OR CONVEX STRUCTURE - The invention relates to a device for the detection of at least one defect in a concave or convex structure comprising an emitting part and a receiving part, in which the emitting part comprises at least one current layer ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126802 | FREQUENCY SELECTION METHOD AND HARDENING DEPTH MEASUREMENT METHOD OF EDDY CURRENT MEASUREMENT - Disclosed is a method of appropriately and easily selecting a combination of two different frequencies of an AC exciting signal used for eddy current measurement while decreasing or removing the dependence of the measurement accuracy on temperature. Three or more AC exciting signals of different frequencies are applied to an object under measurement by an exciting coil, and an induced current is produced. Detection signals corresponding to the frequencies are detected by a detection coil, and the phase difference between each detection signal and the AC exciting signal corresponding to each frequency is calculated from the detection signals corresponding to the frequencies. From the phase differences, a combination of two frequencies the phase differences of which are within a predetermined range is extracted. The lower frequency of the extracted combination is used for a first frequency, and the higher one is used as a second frequency. Thus, the combination of two frequencies are selected. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF MATERIALS - Methods and apparatus for characterizing composite materials for manufacturing quality assurance (QA), periodic inspection during the useful life, or for forensic analysis/material testing. System are provided that relate eddy-current sensor responses to the fiber layup of a composite structure, the presence of impact damage on a composite structure with or without a metal liner, volumetric stress within the composite, fiber tow density, and other NDE inspection requirements. Also provided are systems that determine electromagnetic material properties and material dimensions of composite materials from capacitive sensor inspection measurements. These properties are related to the presence of buried defects in non-conductive composite materials, moisture ingress, aging of the material due to service or environmental/thermal exposure, or changes in manufacturing quality. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126804 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FAULTY CONCENTRIC NEUTRALS IN A LIVE POWER DISTRIBUTION CABLE - An apparatus for detecting a faulty concentric neutral wire in a live power distribution cable may include, in one embodiment, a housing for sliding along a surface of a power distribution cable, a magnetic sensor, and a motion device. The magnetic sensor may be coupled to the housing and configured to detect a magnetic field produced by each concentric neutral wire as the housing moves along the surface of the cable. The motion device may also be coupled to the housing, and may detect motion of the housing relative to the cable. In some embodiments, a communication device may communicate data describing the magnetic field and motion to a destination device. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126805 | Current Sensor - Embodiments of the invention provide a current sensor including a conductive element and at least two magnetic field sensors. The conductive element includes at least three terminal areas and a common conductive area, wherein each of the at least three terminal areas is connected to the common conductive area to guide a current applied to the respective terminal area into the common conductive area. The at least two magnetic field sensors are arranged at different geometric positions adjacent to the common conductive area, wherein each of the at least two magnetic field sensors is configured to sense a magnetic field component of each current flowing into the common conductive area to provide a sensor signal based on the sensed magnetic field component. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126806 | XMR ANGLE SENSORS - Embodiments relate to xMR sensors, sensor elements and structures, and methods. In an embodiment, a sensor element comprises a non-elongated xMR structure; and a plurality of contact regions formed on the xMR structure spaced apart from one another such that a non-homogeneous current direction and current density distribution are induced in the xMR structure when a voltage is applied between the plurality of contact regions. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126807 | TRANSPORT AND DETECTION OF SUPERPARAMAGNETIC PARTICLES BY NANOWIRE - An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium configured to transport a constituent of fluid sample that binds to a functionalized magnetic particle. The apparatus includes a substrate connected to an input port, a magnetic nanowire, and either a temporally changing magnetic field generator or a spin-polarized current source. The magnetic nanowire is disposed in a surface of the substrate. The width and thickness of the magnetic nanowire are configured so that a domain wall propagating along the nanowire in response to the temporally changing magnetic field continuously couples to a superparamagnetic particle introduced into the input port. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126808 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND MOVING A MAGNETIC FIELD HAVING A FIELD FREE LINE - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating and changing a magnetic field in a field of view ( | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126809 | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Tool With Movable Magnets - Methods and systems are provided that enable logging while drilling NMR measurements to be made with a tool having magnets with positions adjustable or movable relative to each other. Such movement can affect the depth of investigation of the NMR tool. A variety of moving assemblies can be used to effectuate the movement, which can be performed either at the surface or downhole. The tool also can include a magnetically permeable member to control the magnetic field gradient. | 2012-05-24 |
| 20120126810 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE PH MEASUREMENTS USING LIGHT ENDOWED WITH ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM - In a pH measurement system, a magnet defines a BO magnetic field with which selected dipoles preferentially align in an examination region. A orbital angular momentum system endows electromagnetic (EM) radiation with orbital angular momentum (OAM) and transmits the OAM endowed EM radiation to the examination region to at least one of (1) enhance the preferential alignment of the selected dipoles with the BO magnetic field and (2) excite the aligned dipoles to resonate. A receive coil receives resonance signals from the resonating dipoles. An analysis or measurement unit determines a pH in the examination region by analyzing the resonance signals. | 2012-05-24 |
